jacob



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shet 1.

F. W. JAGOB. 00m FREED APPARATUS.

No. 470,758. Patented Mar. 15, 1892 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

F. W. JACOB. COIN FREED APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 15, 1892.

- NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK \VILLIAM JACOB, OF HAMPTON i/VIOK, ENGLAND.

COlN-FREE D APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,758, dated March15, 1892.

Application filed April 2'7, 1391.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK WILLIAM JACOB, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, residing at Hampton Wick, in the county of Middlesex,England, have invented a new and useful Improved Coin-Freed Apparatusfor Giving Access to a Book, such as a directory or other book ofreference, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention relates to improved apparatus, by means of which accesscan be had to a book-such, for instance, as a directory or other book ofreferenceaft-er a predetermined coin has been first inserted into anopening provided for it. In the accompanying drawings, which are inillustration of my invention, Figures 1 and 3 are vertical sectionsshowing the apparatus closed; and Fig. 2 is a similar section show ingit open, so that access can be had to the book contained in it. Fig. 4is a perspective View of the apparatus. Figs. 5, 0, and 7 are detailviews, on a larger scale, of the device by which the coin is made tooperate.

The same letters of referenceindicate the same parts inthe severalfigures.

ct is a table or.platform upon which'the directory or other book isplaced in a convenient position for reference.

I) b are two side covers or cases inciosin g the book when the latter isshut and hinged at the points a c to the platform of the machine in suchmanner that when they are vertical, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, thebook is closed, while when turned down to a horizontal or nearlyhorizontal position, as shown in Fig. 2, it can be opened and referredto and read.

The side cases 1) b are provided with curved arms d cl, projectingdownward through openings in the top of the apparatus, and a transversebar or frame e is arranged horizontally between them and is capable ofmoving up and down, so that when it is brought down its extremitiesforce apart the curved bars d d, as shown in Figs. 1 and' 3, and inclcsethe book in the cases I) I), while when raised sufficiently, as shown inFig. 2, it allows the bars (1 d to approach each other'and the cases I;b to open, so that the book can be referred, to as already described.

Serial No. 390,711. (No model.)

At the center of the movable frame e is fixed a lateral vertical socketf, as shown more clearly in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, through which passesfreely a corresponding vertical bar 9, provided at its upper end with acollar or head it, so that when it is drawn down it brings with it themovable bar or frame 6, and so closes the cases I) b and the bookcontained in them. The bar g passes through a suitable guide t', and ismade of sufficient weight to descend and close the book when in itsnormal position, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4, and below its lower endIt is arranged a lever or treadle Z, Fig. 3, pivoted to the frame of theapparatus, and in such position that when its outer end is depressed bythe foot of the person using the apparatus its inner end raises the bar7c and the frame 6 for a short distance, freeing the latter from thebars (1 d, so that the cases I) b can be opened by the hands into theposition shown in Fig. 2, the ends of the bars cl d raising the frame eand the bar g it into the position shown. The lower end k of the bar isprovided with ratchet-teeth, into which, when the lever Z is depressed,a pawl m at the upper end of a prolongation of the lever engages, sothat the bar 9 is prevented from descending as long as'the lever Z iskept depressed. When, however, the lever Z is released, the pawl m isdisengaged and the bar 9 and frame 6 descend, closing the cases I) b andthe book.

A spring stop or buffer or an air cylinder or vessel containing a pistonor plunger attached to the rod g is arranged, as indicated at n, toprevent too great shock from the descent of the bar g when the pressureis removed from the lever Z. The upper part of the bar 9 and the socketf have an inclined slot 0 formed through them to receive a coin p, whichpasses into them, when the machine is at rest, through a chute 0",having an opening at its upper end accessible to the person using theapparatus. If no coin be introduced into the slot when the leverl isdepressed, the bar g rises without lifing the socket f and frame 6, andthe cases 17 b consequently remain closed. If, however, a coin p beintroduced, as shown in Fig. 5, it serves to connect the socket f to thebar 9, and the former is raised until it frees the points of the arms dd, and the cases I) b can be then opened by hand, as already described,the coin at the same time falling out of the slot and above the guide 75into a drawer or receptacle provided for it, the cases I) 1) remainingopen until the pressure is withdrawn from the lever Z, when the bardescends, its head It drawing down the socket f and bar or frame e andclosing the cases I) b and the book, and thus preventing further accessto the latter until another coin has been inserted and the lever Z againdepressed.

Instead of cases I) 1), plates of metal or other suitable material maybe attached to' the sides of the book itself and hinged at c; or insteadof two cases b b a single one only may be used, arranged to turncompletely over and inclose the book. In all cases the book is attachedto the platform e in such a manner that it cannot be surreptitiouslyremoved.

The outside of the apparatus may be made of any ornamental shapedesired.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

1. In an apparatus for giving access to a book, the combination, withthe cases containin g such book, of levers attached to said cases, and atreadleoperated bar freeing said levers from a locked position when apredetermined coin is inserted in the machine, substantially as setforth.

2. In a coin-freed apparatus, the combination, with the cases inclosingthe object to be inspected, of levers attached to said cases, a

treadle-operated bar operating to unlock said levers, and an air-butteron said bar, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the platform a, cases I) b, hinges c 0, arms cZ(Z, frame or bar e, bar 9, and treadle or lever Z, substantially as andfor the purposes described and illustrated.

4. The combination, with the cases b b, arms (Z d, and frame or bar 6,of the socket f, slotted bar g, head h, guide 2', and coin-chute 'r',substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated.

5. In combination with the cases I) 1), arms cZ (Z, frame or plate 6,and movable bar g, the ratchet-teeth Zc,lever Z, and pawl m, substan'-tially as described and illustrated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERICK VILLIAM JACOB.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR E. EDWARDS, HAROLD KENNEDY.

